Crystal River current., 1887-05-07
you have bought Mr.. Cabot's grand
father pS

you have bought Mr.. Cabot's grand
fatherP''
'.It is true that Judge Cabot now be-
longs to me-that he is my grand
father" was Max's answer.
''Since Pauline has broached the SUBJ
ject, Mr.. Jennings" said Mrs. Randall.
II must own that l am little curious
to know what gave rise to this remark
able story which is going around about
you and Edgar Cabot"
"Oh. it is very simple. Cabot was
hard up. and traded off few dollars
for an ancestor or two." replied Max,
lightly.
"Do you really mean to claim those
dead Cabots for your own?" asked DR..
Randall, a little testify.
II do. Why not?" was Max query.
DIR. Randall could neither say yes nor
no. While he was hesitating for
suitable answer which should cover the
whole ground and yet not hurt Max's
feelings. Max continued:
You know, sir. that you value de-
scent above money. Let us suppose a
case: If man had daughter. and
two men were to present themselves as
suitors, the one with good name but
poor purse. the other in exactly the
reverse condition, to which would you
advise her to give an affirmative ans
werP'
DIR. Randall appreciated the full
meaning of this question, which was
even harder than the previous one to
be answered. He could not collect his
thoughts as quickly rs his older daugh-
ter did. however. Before her father
could frame reply, Olive said, de-
terminedly.
IL think it would be we'll to let the
girl have some voice in such a matter.
think that the characters of the two
men ought to be taken into considera-
ton. don't believe any girl would
want a man who could sell his graud-
father. She'd be more apt to see
worthy qualities in the one who didn't
consider money the only thing worth
having"
There was no installing the signifi-
canoe of Olives tones, or of her flush
ed face. DR.. Randall loved his child
rem. SO. saying to himself: MAX is at
heart gentleman. in spite of his eN-
traction; perhaps there was good on his
jest of the whole matter. and ans
wered:
"Ah, Max. you see what a minority
am in! My wife always agrees with
Olive, and even Pauline echoes her. so
I dare not dispute a WORD she says"
Max looked pleased. and Mrs. Ran
| dali positively beamed on her husband.
But fancy the feelings of all when Max
said:
THE most singular part of the whole
affair is this: One of my-of old Tom
Jennings friends heard of this bargain
between Cabot and me, and put me in
the way of proving that Tom Jennings
adopted me in my earliest infancy out
of an orphan ASYLUM. where had been
placed by mother just before her death.
She was in consumption, and as her
last hours drew near she made conf
dant of Tom Jennings wife. and told
her that she had been deceived by q
false marriage between herself and the
father of this Edgar Cabot. As the
years passed. and Tom found that the
Cabots were not, as q rule, dissolute
men, he thought he would investigate
the so-called false marriage. He did
SO, and found that it was a genuine one;
that my father, Edward Cabot, had had
no intention of deceiving my mother,
but having died suddenly before my
birth. had kept the marriage secret on
ly for fear of his fathers wrath, for my
mother was plain farmers daughter,
poor but honest. as the phrase is. Old
Tom had become fond of me. and know
ing that the Cabots had nothing to be-
queath me except the name, he legally
adopted me as his son. So, you see, I
purchased my ancestors of my older half
brother. Edgar Cabot. came here to-
night. DIR. Randall, to tell you this sto-
~: tomorrow"
MAX, was your mothers name Ra-
chelp" DR.. Randall asked, abruptly.
Yes; Rachel Dennison. of Weston
Mills"
Il was present at your birth, boy,
and your mother told me this story.
1 investigated it for her sake. and found
it true, your father having been Wild
over before he met your mother.
When next saw her she was dead and
the baby had vanished. SO the whole
thing went out of mind until this mo-
ment." Here the doctor had to pause
to rub his spectacles, and Pauline took
advantage of the brief silence to say:
"Now that you've got a grandfather
of your own, I suppose you and Olive
will be getting married, and then you'll
be my brother Max. will you notP''-
Frn,1ciS H. Wn1lefoh in he Current